Frequently Asked Questions

Graduation ceremonies will take place between Monday 6 and Friday 17 July 2026 (Mon-Fri only, no weekend ceremonies).

The ceremonies will be held in the Kings Hall, Armstrong Building. Ticket collection, degree certificate collection, gowning, photography, and the post-ceremony reception will be held on Campus.

You will receive an email in February 2026 if you are eligible to attend. If you do not receive an email by the end of February but believe you are eligible to attend, please contact the congregations office.

When you are invited to graduation, you complete a graduation application form. You are given the option in the form to not attend or defer your ceremony, if you are unable to attend in the summer. 

If you are unable to attend, your certificate will be sent to your home address. 

After the graduation application form closes, and your circumstances change and affect your attendance, please email the congregations team. 

If you have or intend to appeal, you must inform us by contacting the congregations office so we can update your record accordingly.

If you have applied to resit please inform the congregations office.

Yes, if you are unable to attend in July, you can defer your graduation to Winter 2026.  

To be eligible to graduate at these ceremonies, you must complete your course and appear on a pass list by Tuesday 23 June 2026.

If you have debts to the University, these must be reduced to under £100 by 23 June 2026 in order to attend your ceremony and must be cleared completely for you to receive your certificate.

Invitations will be sent to all students expected to graduate in February. If you think you are eligible and have not received the graduation invitation by the end of February, please contact the congregations office.

If you need an invitation letter to your ceremony, to support a visa application for you or your guests, complete the visa letter request form.

You will receive your degree certificate from the ticket desk on the day of your graduation. You will not need your certificate for any part of the ceremony.

You do not need to bring your certificate with you. You will not need your certificate for any part of the day.

You will receive an invitation email by the end of February if you are eligible to attend. If you do not receive the email by the end of February, please contact the congregations office.

Your graduate ticket and up to two guest tickets are free of charge.

If extra tickets are available, an email will be sent (to graduates/students attending a ceremony) in April with how to apply for extra tickets. 

Seating will be allocated at the ticket desk for yourself and your guests. If tickets are booked at different times, all your guest tickets will still be received together and sat together.

If you would like separate seating for your guests, please email the Congregations team.

Although we wish to make congregations as welcoming and inclusive as possible, the formal nature and duration of the ceremonies may make them unsuitable for babies and young children. Due to fire regulations, please be aware that children over two years old require a guest ticket. Infants under 2 years old can attend without a ticket, and must be sat on the lap of an adult guest who has a ticket. 

For any guests who are unable to attend, the ceremonies will be available to view live on our website. A recording of the ceremony will also be available to view on demand soon after the ceremony.

The graduate will collect all the tickets from the ticket desk on the day of graduation, it is the graduate’s responsibility to share their tickets with their guests. The graduate must bring ID with them to collect their tickets.

The Congregations team will email the students/graduates with a form to fill in, to confirm any access needs for themselves and/or their guests. We require the response by 23 June to ensure adjustments can be arranged.

If any details change between 23 June and your ceremony date, please contact the congregations office urgently with any access requirements. 

Please be aware we can only guarantee on-campus parking to blue badge holders who have requested this in advance. 

All graduates are strongly recommended to wear the official Newcastle University Gown and Hood for the ceremony, provided by our official Robe Makers. 

Gown hire pre-booking will open in late March and close in late June. 

Hire is for one day only and charges are as follows:

Non-Degree Qualifications (Diplomas and Certificates) = £44
Undergraduate Degrees = £44
Postgraduate Masters Degrees = £49
Doctorates = £54

If you wish to purchase a gown, please contact our Robe Makers Gray and Son directly. 

If you miss the booking window, you can hire your gown on the day. Please note hire purchases on the day will be CASH ONLY.

Most Academic dress (PDF: 668.5 kB) at Newcastle University does not include a mortar board, by tradition.

The story goes that when Newcastle became an independent university in 1963, students celebrated freedom by throwing their traditional hats into the River Tyne. Since then, Newcastle University academic dress has not included a mortar board.

Although the Congregation ceremonies represent a chance to celebrate your achievements, they are also traditional formal events. You are encouraged to dress accordingly. We advise candidates to wear a light coloured shirt or blouse with dark trousers or a skirt. A buttoned shirt or blouse is recommended as there is a loop on the academic hood which can be affixed over a button. Alternatively, you may wish to bring a safety pin to help hold the hood in place.

Traditional and national dress is encouraged. All attendees are also advised to dress in a manner appropriate to the weather, noting that there may be queues outside the Congregations venues.

See here for the style and colour of your Academic dress (PDF: 668.5 kB).

If you miss the booking window, you can hire your gown on the day. Please note hire purchases on the day will be CASH ONLY. 

Please contact Gray & Son of Durham who will be able to refund your gown hire.

Hired gowns will be available to collect from the campus on the day of your ceremony. You just need to provide your name, and have your booking confirmation email available if requested. 

Your gown hire is for the full day. If you have an afternoon ceremony, we recommend you arrive early to collect your gown and enjoy spending time in the gown, taking photos around campus, and celebrating your time before the ceremony. 

Hired gowns must be returned on the day of your ceremony. Return them to the same place where you collect them (location for July 2026 to be confirmed). 

If you have an afternoon ceremony, we recommend you arrive early to collect your gown and enjoy spending time in the gown, taking photos around campus, and celebrating your time before the ceremony. 

Pre-booking is not possible. Simply drop in to Level 1 King's Gate for your photography proofs, and then purchase online after your graduation via Tempest Photography.

Last entries to the studios will be 30 minutes before the last gown return time.

Please see the Tempest photography website, where you can view the packages available. Click 'not had your graduation yet' and enter your details.

You can collect your tickets 90 minutes before your ceremony start time. 

• For morning ceremonies, you have plenty time after the ceremony to enjoy campus, visit the Photography studios, get refreshments and spend time in your gown.
• For afternoon ceremonies, we recommend coming to campus in plenty time before your ceremony. You can collect your gown at get professional photographs at any time on the day. Remember to collect your tickets from 90 minutes before your ceremony start time. 

You should arrive on campus at least 60 minutes before your ceremony.

Before your ceremony:

1. Collect your gown 
2. Register and collect all tickets and your certificate
3. Graduates will be admitted 30 minutes before the ceremony begins.
4. Guests will be admitted 20 minutes before the ceremony begins. Guests enter through a different entrance so ensure you have given your guests their tickets before you enter the hall.

Your ceremony will last approximately 45 minutes, with the exception of honorary ceremonies which can last up to 75 minutes.

After your ceremony:
4. Attend the reception. This will last for 45 minutes, straight after your ceremony.

Anytime during the day:

• Visit the professional photography studios. You do not need a booking, pop by the studios for your proofs, then you can order online afterwards.
• Enjoy your time on campus - show your guests around and take photos in your favourite spots. 
• Get refreshments and visit the NU Merch shops.

Before you leave

• Return your gown.

*Only graduates can collect tickets. Bring your Student ID (or other photographic ID)

We do not have a cloakroom or anywhere to store items of luggage. Please do not bring any large items.

Car parking is unfortunately not available on campus*, but there are many car parks within walking distance. Please see the city and campus map.

 *except for blue badge holders and must be arranged in advance with the Congregations Office

Live Screening is a lecture theatre within the same building as the ceremony venue (Armstrong Building) where guests will be able to enjoy the live streaming of the ceremony on a large screen. The theatre is on the second floor of the Armstrong Building.